New ISO standard for emergency management
In order to contribute to efforts aimed at minimizing the impacts of disasters, terrorist attacks and other major incidents, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published a new standard for emergency management and incident response. ISO 22320:2011, Societal Security - Emergency management - Requirements for incident response outlines global sound practice for establishing command and control organizational structures and procedures, decision support, traceability and information management. Interoperability amongst involved organizations is essential for successful incident response. The standard also helps ensure timely, relevant and accurate operational information by specifying processes, systems of work, data capture and management. It also establishes a foundation for coordination and cooperation, ensuring that all relevant parties are on the same page during a disaster, minimizing the risk of misunderstandings and ensuring a more effective use of the combined resources. ISO 22320 also encourages community participation in the development and implementation of incident response measures, to ensure a response that is appropriate to the needs of the affected population as well as culturally acceptable.
More information is available at the ISO website: http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1496.
Source: ISO
